100 years ago

According to reports received the lull was continuing at the front. Those who returned said that they were more concerned with the plague of mud and damp, which was worse than all the plagues of Egypt, and longed for a return of the cold weather, even at the risk of frozen feet.

The cold snap at the end of November had cost the Army the services of many men through frostbite. They would, of course, recover, but they suffered as much pain in the meanwhile as if they had fallen victims to the enemy's projectiles.

Cases of frostbite and bronchitis formed the staple of the work of the hospitals during the past few days as far as new arrivals were concerned. Things were currently easier in the trenches.

Men rarely had to spend more than two successive nights in the front line in these piping times. Whereas during the battle of the Yser and around Ypres it had been no uncommon experience for a regiment to remain there a fortnight unrelieved.
 

50 years ago

Carols in Kirkgate - York Castle Museum's famous cobbled street - was the city's leading pre-Christmas attraction, and it was forecast by the Curator, Mr Robert Patterson, that the three-day event might have to be extended to a week the following year.

Even then, this would nowhere near satisfy the demands. During three nights this week more than 1000 people would crowd into the softly-lit street to join in the singing of six traditional carols.

Singing would be led by the York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir and the Boys' Choir of Beckfield Secondary School. A section of the York Schools' Orchestra would be led by Ronald Easye, with D Lloyd Smith playing harpsichord.

Members of the boys' choir would be wearing the uniform - brass-buttoned cut-away jacket and trousers - of the old Blue Coat School which had been housed in St Anthony's Hall.
 

25 years ago

The choice was twofold: either aim for the stars or enjoy a date with tradition.

While Jeremy Beadle was about in Leeds City Varieties, Jim Davidson was bouncing into Bradford and Les Dennis was having a ball at Hull New Theatre, York Theatre Royal and Harrogate Theatre were sticking to comedian-free Christmas pantomimes.

From Friday, dame Berwick Kaler would be let loose at the Theatre Royal, York for his 11th Christmas season of riotous entertainment, joined as ever by a trusty sidekick Martin Barrass for Aladdin.

The York Theatre believed in developing a style of panto devoid of television star trappings and once more they could report increased advance bookings on the previous year's impressive figures.